muplo grammar

MUPLO GRAMMAR © Max Jurcev 2008 Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 2
Table of content 0. introduction 1. historical overview 1.1. The Muplo Academy for Onirical Transpersonal Geography 1.2. The Ouqefwamemmav 1.3. Prosecution 2. phonology 2.1 consonants 2.2 consonant clusters 2.3. diphthongs 2.4. stress 2.5. phonotactic 2.6. word composition 3. writing 3.1. muplo script 3.2. signs of water and light 3.3. punctuation 3.4. letter names 3.5. muplo digits 3.6. cursive script 3.7. cyrillic script 4. morphology and syntax 4.1. heavy and light words 4.2. gautunne – heavy words 4.3. order of gautunne 4.4. pronominals gautunne 4.5. numeral gautunne 4.6. giutunne – light words 4.7. gender giutunne 4.8. giutunne of number and determination 4.9. functional giutunne 4.10. spatial giutunne 4.11. temporal giutunne 4.12. aspect giutunne 4.13. tense giutunne 4.14. mood giutunne 4.15. intensity giutunne 4.16. comparation giutunne 4.17. transformational giutunne 4.18. adjectives 4.19. implicit verb 4.20. gautunne: de, hiq, hot, vut 4.21. interrogative giutunne 4.22. gautunne: hiq 4.23. gautunne: wa, si 4.24. direct questions 4.25. relative sentences 4.26. subordination 4.27. transactional gautunne 4.28. principle of minimization 5. lexical topics 5.1. gautunne: adverbs and conjunctions 5.2. opposite gautunne 5.3. dates 5.4. time 5.5. colours 5.6. seasons 5.7. useful phrases 6. documents 6.1. example 1 6.2. example 2 6.3. example 3 7. dictionary Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 3
0. Introduction The Muplo is an agglutinative language. Its words are built from roots (the primary lexical units) without alterations, combined with several different affixes. The affixes (prefixes or suffixes) define qualitative and relational attributes, like time, space, verbal mode, gender, etc. Muplo (/mˈuplø/) means “nice language”. The ancient Tuziat (city of the door), splendid cradle of the muplo culture. Nowadays this North Adriatic harbour is better known as Trieste (Italy), a drowsy town full of traffic. * * * The author apologize for his written english. Please report any error, omission, correction or suggestion to the author ([email protected]), they will be very appreciated.
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 4
1. Historical overview The following map displays the complex path of muplo culture across the centuries. The Muplo spreaded slowly all around Europe, Middle East and North Africa. The process probably started in the II century BC. The oldest evidences have been found in Tuziat (now Trieste), which let suppose this border land along the northern shores of Adriatic Sea to be a possible originating point. During the last two centuries, more recent migrations to Australia, America and Far East contributed to a global diffusion of the language. Muplo culture tended to establish settlements in minor places and towns. For this reason we may find muplo communities in Lecce (southern Italy), in Cuma (north of Napoli), in Transnistria (between Moldova and Ukraina), in the surroundings of Zaragoza (Spain), in Visoko (north of Sarajevo, BiH), around Narvik (Norway) and so on. In Mexico there are few muplo centers very close to Palenque, and other settlements are located in Hokkaido (Japan), New Guinea and Mali. There is an interesting citation related to muplo culture, in a famous tale of George Luis Borges, “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius”, describing an imaginary land created by a bizarre sect of fake encyclopedists. Tlön is the muplo word for “travel” and corresponds to a mythological place where all routes intersect.
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 5
1.1. The Muplo Academy for Onirical Transpersonal Geography Some interesting documents in Muplo are visible in Triest (Italy). On a stone along the Ponterosso channel, where the sea enters the town, there is an inscription dating back to the second half of the XVIII century: The document says: xaa nya’apwa – huuqena yud nya’aswa the dreams come from the sea – back to the sea go our thoughts This stone was placed there by the muplo philosopher Vlaq Mlikevut, member of the Muplo Academy for Onirical Transpersonal Geography (MAFOTG), an exclusive club founded in Helsinki in 1621. Its members gathered always in proximity of shores, where sea and earth are in touch, mostly during severe storms. Many of them drowned and died, where not imprisoned or killed by the authorities, but there are rumors that this association still exists. In this picture, a group of members of the MAFOTG are attending to an uudomme (water celebration) in Narvik (Norway) in 1873. The characteristic rubber boots were suitable for the promenade into the sea. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 6
1.2. The Ouqefwamemmav The next picture shows the door of the Ouqefwamemmav, a relevant institution active in Triest until the 1932. The plain translation is “house of the erasing wind”, because its main activity was the treatment of damaged or persistent memory through the therapeutic action of the wind. Triest is well known around the world for the strong wind named “Bora” and the gnostic specialists of Ouqefwamemmav operated on their patients by means of wind jets (forced through special tube devices) and hypnagogic techniques. Unfortunately the muplo culture was condemned and prosecuted by the rising fascist regime, who closed and destroyed many symbolic places like this house. The house was partially burned and finally closed. Furthermore the government transformed the bulding in a depot of Mussolini’s statues. Now it is only possible to read the inscription on the top of the door. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 7
The next one is a very rare picture of a wind jet device for ouqefwamm. This complicated machine is still visible in the Historical Science Museum of Momjan (Croatia), although seriously damaged and missing many parts. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 8
1.3. Prosecution The Muplo culture was periodically prosecuted by most authoritarian governments. Many philosophical and mystical aspects of the Muplo Weltanschauung were regarded as subsersive and destabilizing. Furthermore its transnational characteristics were supposed to be antipatriotic. On the right, a Nazi poster (dated 1938), personally ideated by Joseph Goebbels, minister of Propaganda. He had a special aversion against Muplo people, maybe due to a young cousin of him, Gyavi Fooffuf (Gjawi Föpfuf was the german version of her name). She was 15 and he was 27 when she refused his heavy attempt of flirting, and the future Nazi star never forgave. In a different way, the stalinist regime in Soviet Union wanted to move all Muplo people of Russia into a delimited region. This was part of a great plan of Stalin, who intented to neutralize the bad influence of many ethnic groups, by creating new settlements as far as possible from Moscow. In 1949, he created the new Muplistan Oblast’, a landlocked country of about 350 square kilometers, located in Northern Siberia. An optimistic propaganda showed this country as a peaceful and rich district, full of rivers, woods and natural resources. The poster on the left was an effective ad for convincing Muplo people to leave their home and move to a new destination, the Muplistan. Unfortunately, the reality was quite different from expectation. Muplistan was a frozen and wild territory, with unhealthy swamps and temperatures ranging from ‐40°C to 40°C. The industrial exploitment of the abundant resources of uranium had led to a severe air pollution. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 9
This is a rare picture of the center of Muplograd, the main city: Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 10
2. Phonology 2.1 Consonants Muplo’s alphabet is strictly phonetic. Almost every sign has a well‐defined pronunciation, corresponding to a single phoneme, with few exceptions. The signs are divided in six classes: fire, stone, soil, water, light and air. Fire‐, stone‐, soil‐ and water‐signs are consonants, while air‐signs are vowels. Class Transcription IPA* fire r /ɣ/
j /ɲ/
c /ɮ/
stone s /s/
q /ʃ/
p /p/
t /t/
k /k/
m /m/
n /n/
f /f/
soil h /h/
x /x/
v /v/
b /b/
d /d/
z /ð/
g /g/
water w /βʷ/, /□ʷ/
y /j/, /□ʲ/
l /l/
light ‘ /ʔ/
e /ə/
air a /a/
i /i/
o /ø/, /ɯ/
u /u/
*IPA: International Phonetic Association Sound sample gaan (dutch) ragno (italian) долоо (mongolian) salt shop tape late like moon net fire house Dach (german) very boy made this goal vuoto (italian) yankee look be↑amen (dutch) about alto (italian) isola (italian) schön (german) uso (italian) The light‐signs <’> /ʔ/, <e> /ə/ have only euphonic value, being used when compound words or
affixes are combined together; <’> connects two vowels or diphthongs; <e> connects two
consonants. <w> is read as /βʷ/ when standing alone, while marks a labialization if preceded by a consonant . For example: <hw> /hʷ/, <nw> /nʷ/. <y> is read as /j/ whe standing alone, while marks a palatalization if preceded by a consonant For Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 11
example: <ky> /kʲ/, <my> /mʲ/. Air‐signs correspond to vowels, as described later. Table of consonants: Nasal Bilabial Labiodental Dental Alveolar Postalveol. Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p
m
Fricative n
b
t
βʷ
f
v
ð
ɲ
d
s
ʃ
Approximant k
g
ʔ
x
ɣ
h
j
Lateral fricat. ɮ
Lateral approx. l
2.2. Consonant clusters Acceptable consonant clusters in Muplo are: •
crystal = double stone‐sign (geminate consonants) ss, qq, pp, tt, kk, mm, nn, ff •
sand = stone + water sw, sy, sl, qw, qy, ql, pw, py, pl, tw, ty, tl, kw, ky, kl, mw, my, ml, nw, ny, nl, fw, fy, fl •
mud = soil + water hw, hy, hl, xw, xy, xl, vw, vy, vl, bw, by, bl, dw, dy, dl, zw, zy zl, gw, gy, gl Any other combination is not allowed (fire + water, stone + soil, etc.)
Double consonants at the beginning of a word are read with an unwritten preceding schwa (/ə/)
and lenghten the following vowel.
For example: mmav (house) /əˈm:a:v/.
2.3. Diphthongs
Diphthongs are made of two air‐signs. Their name is clouds (air + air). A doubled vowel originates a long vowel Transcription aa Sound ii /i:/ oo /ø:/ /a:/ Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 12
uu /u:/ ai /ai/ ao /aɯ/ au /au/ ia /ia/
io /iø/
iu /iu/
oa /ɯa/ oi /øi/ ou /øu/ ua /ua/ ui /ui/ uo /uø/ Scheme of vowels and diphthongs: ɯ
ui/iu
i øu/uø ø ai/ia
u
aɯ/ɯa
ə au/ua
a 2.4. Stress In Muplo, the stressed syllable belongs always to the cardinal word in any compound. Only a root word can be cardinal, hence affixes are never stressed. A syllable with <e> can not be stressed. Examples: vut /vˈut/= man vutonnut /vˈutønnut/= that man 2.5. Phonotactic The formation of muplo words obeys to strict phonetic rules. Muplo phonemes (single or clustered) are classified as follows: •
Plokak: consonants and consonant clusters o Giuteplokak: consonants (stone, soil or water) Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 13
o Gauteplokak: fire consonants (<c>, <r>, <j>) or consonant clusters •
Plohaan: vowels and diphthongs o Giuteplohaan: vowels o Gauteplohaan: dipthongs and long vowels •
Rateplohaan: light sounds (<e> and <’>) The <’> sound is classified as plohaan, although it is phonetically a consonant (glottal stop). There are some formation rules (F) and prohibition rules (P) for the words (also for prefixes or suffixes): •
F1 (V): single plokak (golden words) examples: uu, ai‐, ‐o •
F2 (VC): plohaan + plokak (platinum words) examples: iil, oap, at •
F3 (VCe): giuteplohaan + gauteplokak + <e> (silver words) examples: ire, atte •
F4 (CV): plokak + plohaan (iron words) examples: ru‐, plo, ssa‐, ‐guu •
F5 (CVC): plokak + plohaan + giuteplokak (copper words) examples: tat, qaaq, ffag, hwiq •
F6 (CVCe): plokak + giuteplohaan + gauteplokak + <e> (bronze words) examples: zwokwe, ppice, flure •
F7 (C or Ce): single plokak with optional <e> (tin words) examples: ‐k, ‐s, ke •
P1: “a gauteplokak and a gauteplohaan can not stay together in a word” for example, words like “kaanne”, “raa” or “tluu” are not allowed •
P2: “a word can not end with <w> or <y>“ for example, words like “aw” or “nuy” are not allowed The rules F3 and F6 depend on the fact that a word ending with a consonant cluster or a fire consonant needs a following <e>. The word “‐ozi” (mixed gender suffix) is an exception to all rules. Muplo is generally reluctant to the introduction of foreign loan words, since a simple or compound muplo word is always preferrable. When an original muplo word is not feasible, for instance in case of proper names, then the foreign word must comply the phonotactic rules. Muplo alphabet is adapted for a phonetic trasncription as closest as possible to the original sound. Example: Italia → Italya Foreign sounds are transcripted with digrams: /o/, /ɔ/ = <oe>
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 14
/e/, /ɛ/ = <ae>
/ʧ/ = <tq>
/ʤ/ = <dc>
/r/ = <dr>
/z/ = <ds>
/ʦ/ = <ts>
/θ/ = <tz>
/ʒ/ = <sc>
Examples:
France → Fdrans Deutschland → Doeitqland Roma → Droema William Shakespeare → Wilyam Qaeikspidr 2.6. Word composition The word composition follows the euphonic rules, which must be applied when two consonants or two vowels/diphthongs attach together. 1. Between two consonants or consonant clusters, an <e> must be inserted. Also <w> and <y> are regarded as consonants. Example: xaod + kak = xaodekak 2. Between two vowels or diphthongs, an <’> must be inserted. Example: lo‐ + oq = lo’oq 3. The sign <e> must be dropped when is adjacent to a vowel or a diphthong. Example: de + ‐asu = dasu 3. Writing 3.1. Muplo script Muplo script is written from left to right, just like latin script. The glyphs are based on some basic shapes and combinations of them, reflecting the phonological nature of clusters. The basic glyphs for vowels may be combined together, providing the compound glyphs for cloud‐signs. The basic signs of elementary consonants (stone and soil) may be combined with water‐signs (<w>, <y> and <l>): the <w> takes the shape of a horizontal line attached below the basic glyph; the <l> takes the shape of a single hook; the <y> takes the shape of a double hook (similar to a lowercase omega (ω) in greek script). By duplication of a stone‐
glyph, a double or geminated letter is obtained. Normally the doubled glyph s are arranged vertically. All glyphs must share the same size, except for light‐signs and water‐signs, which are differently arranged (see further). These rules of glyph combination are not stricly observed. Some practical or artistical reasons may bring to an alteration of the aspect of clusters. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 15
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 16
3.2. Signs of water and light Water‐ an light‐signs are smaller than others and must be written above or beneath adjacent signs. More in detail, <’> is written above the next vowel, <e> beneath the previous consonant. At the beginning of a syllable, <w>, <y> and <l> are written above the next vowel, but the final <l> is written beneath the previous vowel, and <le> is written as a cluster beneath the previous vowel. The following scheme shows al possible cases: 3.3. Punctuation Muplo script is written from left to right, without interruptions. It is allowed to start a new paragraph after a period, for sake of better understanding. Single words are separated by a small dot, called biyof (little pause). Sentences are separated by a double dot, called yof (pause), corresponding to our comma or semicolon or full stop. Periods are separated by a triple dot, called kiayof (big pause), corresponding to our full stop followed by a new line. Speech or quotations are delimited by two signs, called plowiiz (speech sign), correponding to our quotation marks. A question is delimited by two signs, called aunewiiz (question sign), corresponding to our question mark. A dubitative question is delimited by two signs, called nnigewiiz (doubt sign). An exclamative sentence is delimited by two signs, called raodewiiz (emphasis sign), corresponding to our exclamation mark. †x† biyof (word separator) space †:† yof (sentence separator) ,;. (comma – semicolon ‐ period) † † kiayof (period and newline) . (period) † plowiiz (speech sign) “ “ (quotations marks) † aunewiiz (question sign) ? (question mark) † nnigewiiz (doubt sign) ? (question mark raodewiiz (exclamation sign) ! (exclamation mark) † Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 17
3.4. Letter names Muplo script assigns a name to each one of its 96 letters. The names are real words, used for a mnemonic purpose and starting with the corresponding symbol (a symbol may also represent a diphthong or a consonant cluster). The signs <’> and <e> are different, since any word can start with them. The <’> is called hiokewiiz (“close letter”), because it is produced through a “closure”, or a glottal stop. The <e> is called haokewiiz (“open letter”), because it is produced by relaxing the mouth with emission of a vowel sound (a schwa). hiok = close; haok = open; wiiz = character, alphabet letter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 letter i a o u ii ia io iu ai aa ao au oi oa oo ou ui ua uo uu r j c ‘ e w y l s ss sw sy sl q qq qw qy name
ire at of une iil ian iok iu ais aal aok auz oim oap oot ouq uil uat uox uure rat jah ciz hiokewiiz
haokewiiz
wa yid laal sare ssul swas syil slof qaaq qquh qwax qyak meaning
greeting heat mouse word no lake bread day flower yes horse flight sheet nine four forgiveness
moon shout shot sense light one fish “close letter”
“open letter”
moment eight love meeting table pen pot window memory snooze thirteen bed 49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
letter
k
kk
kw
ky
kl
m
mm
mw
my
ml
n
nn
nw
ny
nl
f
ff
fw
fy
fl
h
hw
hy
hl
x
xw
xy
xl
v
vw
vy
vl
b
bw
by
bl
d
name kak kkice kwamme kyof klid maam mmav mwaje myax mlik nus nnum nwire nya nlos foo ffuf fwam fyace flat hui hwiq hyab hlo xaod xwop xyil xlid vut vwav vyol vlaq biu bwog byotte blim domme meaning
noise nail lamp electric current
faucet heart home cry walk valley shoe six hair sea twelve wall blow wind car finger cloud snake knowledge
tree thunder lightning
fear south person leaf image blood star disk, plate
shoulder
pain feast, celebration
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 18
38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 ql p pp pw py pl t tt tw ty tl qlut paf ppice pwije pyal plo tuz ttole twil tyig tlon cover eleven lemon cat floor speech door fate, destiny
tooth soil, earth travel 86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
dw
dy
dl
z
zw
zy
zl
g
gw
gy
gl
dwi dyaje dlux zok zwokwe zyas zlon gad gwa gyav glon wave leg sight fourteen
idiot sand chair night river sun five To make a reference to a letter as character (not as word), the word wiiz must follow, for example: gadewiiz gwawiizezwil = letter G (gad) comes before letter GW (gwa) 3.5. Muplo digits Muplo digits are arranged on base‐17; there are seventeen digits, from 0 to 16. Their shapes follow a principle of “seamless transformation”: every digit looks similar to the previous one and to the next one, with small deformations, curlings, rotations or cuts. The numbers follow a positional system going from left to right, just like our hindu‐arabic numeral system. For example: 23,600 = 173 x 4 + 172 x 13 + 17 x 11 + 4 Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 19
Base‐10 numbers require a dot at the beginningNel caso di numeri in base 10, bisogna premettere un punto al numero. For example: 193,645 3.6. Cursive script Muplo has also a cursive script, used for handwriting. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 20
Example: Vutozidwin dodye vyade hul hu zwak nainemwaffekla hu voaneramevekla. Vutozi fifis cikkekuufu hu nainekuufu, hu dozi puneqlalepi qlalevutezuagyo 3.7. Cyrillic script Muplo has also a transcription basedon the cyrillic alphabet: i
a
o
u
ii
ia
io
iu
ai
aa
ao
au
И
А
О
У
ИИ
ИА
ИО
ИУ
АИ
АА
АО
АУ
oi
oa
oo
ou
ui
ua
uo
uu
r
j
c
‘
ОИ
ОА
ОО
ОУ
УИ
УА
УО
УУ
Ғ
Њ
Җ
Ь
e
w
y
l
s
ss
sw
sy
sl
q
qq
qw
Е
Ў
Й
Л
С
СС
СЎ
С
С
Ш
ШШ
ШЎ
qy
ql
p
pp
pw
py
pl
t
tt
tw
ty
tl
ШЙ
ШЛ
П
ПП
ПЎ
ПЙ
ПЛ
Т
ТТ
ТЎ
ТЙ
ТЛ
k
kk
kw
ky
kl
m
mm
mw
my
ml
n
nn
К
КК
КЎ
КЙ
КЛ
М
ММ
МЎ
МЙ
МЛ
Н
НН
nw
ny
nl
f
ff
fw
fy
fl
h
hw
hy
hl
НЎ
НЙ
НЛ
Ф
ФФ
ФЎ
ФЙ
ФЛ
Ҳ
ҲЎ
ҲЙ
ҲЛ
x
xw
xy
xl
v
vw
vy
vl
b
bw
by
bl
Х
ХЎ
ХЙ
ХЛ
В
ВЎ
ВЙ
ВЛ
Б
БЎ
БЙ
БЛ
d
dw
dy
dl
z
zw
zy
zl
g
gw
gy
gl
Д
ДЎ
ДЙ
ДЛ
Ҙ
ҘЎ
ҘЙ
ҘЛ
Г
ГЎ
ГЙ
ГЛ
Example: “Ttolekka!” cus fiplo. “Denil fyip nunena. De kiaklis: jax mudlux fah maamui. Lunennaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla.” “Lunennaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla” vin rumehilo suifiplo, koi do qaaqii hotu. “Ттолекка!” җус фипло. “Денил фйип нунена. Де кнаклнс: њах мудлух фаҳ маамуи.
Луненнасейуг длухешедибе нўикла.” “Луненнасейуг длухешедибе нўикла” вин
ғумеҳилo суифипло, кои до шаашии ҳоту. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 21
4. Morphology and Syntax 4.1. Heavy and light words
There are two main classes of words: •
gautunne = heavy words (nouns, actions, attributes, etc.) •
giutunne = light words (markers of time, mode, intensity, gender, number... There is a further subdivision in two subclasses: o prefixes o suffixes 4.2. Gautunne – heavy words The gautunne are the main concepts of Muplo: actions, persons, numerals, objects, qualities, abstract ideas, etc. There are seven categories of gautunne: •
nouns: common and proper nouns of things, persons, living beings, concepts (like: sea, woman, lamp, happiness, truth) •
pronouns: (e.g. I, he, we) •
numerals: (e.g. three, fifteen) •
adjectives: properties or qualities (e.g. red, low, slippery) •
transitive verbs: actions appliable to an object (e.g. to watch, to remember) •
intransitive verbs: actions without any appliable object (e.g. to be red, to walk) •
adverbs and conjunctions: words which better define the action of a subject, by expressing time, mode, space or by coordinating a sentence with other sentences (e.g. too, quickly, only) In Muplo each gautunne can belong to more than one category. For example hoih (red, to be red) is an adjective but also an intransitive verb. It is importan to realize that the categories of gautunne are an useful instrument for better comprehension about grammatical relationships, not a semantical classification. Moreover a gautunne can change its category when they are modified by giutunne (e.g. the transformation giutunne). Examples: dyip = slip, to slip xaod = thunder ffag = gesture, to make a gesture moog = nose, to sniff kak = noise, to make a noise ciz = fish Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev vut = person une = word Two or more gautunne can be attached to make a compound. Word composition generally express a “relationship”, like ownship, reference, union of some parts, dependency, etc. It is akin to english preposition “of”, or to word aggregation in german through the “s” genitive (ship war = Kriegsschiff). Examples: ffageplo = gesture language xaodekak = noise of thunder Not only the gautunne of “noun” kind can be attached, but even qualifiers, verbs, etc. For example an adjective can be easily connected to a noun: yoaz = high, tall yoazevut = tall person Moreover, a compound made of two adjectives or two verbs may express an hybrid meaning. Example: hoih = red kouk = yellow hoihekouk = orange In a compound of more gautunne, the syllabic stress lies on the last gautunne. Example: hoihekouk /høihəˈkøuk/ 4.3. Order of gautunne The standard word order in a muplo sentence is SVO, subject – verb ‐ object. Examples: woq = to eat, food vut (S) woq (V) cizu (O) = people eat fish The “u” in cizu is a suffix expressing the object of the action (accusative suffix). Words expressing space, time, cause, recipient are normally at the end of the sentence. If the sentence is a relative subordinate starting with the object, OVS order is required. It is generally convenient to put the verb between subject and object. Anyway the word order in Muplo is not strictly predefined, since the accusative suffix marks the object. Hence there are many possible exceptions to the SVO rule. One single rule must be strictly observed: “a verb or a predicate (adjective or noun) must follow the subject” 22
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 23
4.4. Pronominals gautunne nun oq de huuq ssat qim fuv jax I you he, she, it we we you they ‐ first singular person second singular person third singular person including the listener, first plural inclusive person excluding the listener, first plural exclusive person second plural person thirs plural person impersonal pronoun “one may say...” Examples: nun plo = I say oq plo = you say (singular) de plo = he/she/it says huuq plo = we (including you) say ssat plo = we (excluding you) say qim plo = you say (plural) fuv plo = they say jax plo = one may say 4.5. Numeral gautunne qqal jah vib wox oot glon nnum yoh yid oap fwit paf nlos qwax zok siil wum tus flah juun 0 (zero) 1 (one) 2 (two) 3 (three) 4 (four) 5 (five) 6 (six) 7 (seven) 8 (eight) 9 (nine) 10 (ten) 11 (eleven) 12 (twelve) 13 (thirteen) 14 (fourteen) 15 (fifteen) 16 (sixteen) 17 (seventeen) 289 (17 x 17) 4,913 (289 x 17) Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 24
ttit 83,521 (4,913 x 17) iaq 1,419,857 (83,521 x 17) klos 24,137,569 (1,419,857 x 17) Muplo numerals are based on 17, not on 10 as in most languages. Then, instead of 10, 100, 1000..., there are words expressing the powers of 17: 289, 4,913, 83,521... Combining a numeral with tus multiplies it by 17. For example: 68 = 4 x 17 = ootetus Similarly numerals can be combined with flah (289), juun (4,913)... For example: 578 = 2 x 289 = vibeflah The suffix ‐pa (with, more) operates as an addiction. For example: 39 = 34 + 7 = (2 x 17) + 5 = vibum glonepa 19 = 17 + 2 = tus vibepa The same system allows the definition of number in different bases, like the useful base‐10: 10 = fwit 11 = fwit jahepa / paf 12 = fwit vibepa / nlos 13 = fwit woxepa /qwax ... 18 = fwit yizepa 19 = fwit oapepa 20 = vibefwit 21 = vibefwit jahepa ... 29 = vibefwit oapepa 30 = woxefwit 40 = ootefwit ... 100 = fwitefwit 200 = vibefwitefwit ... 1000 = fwitefwitefwit and so on. A numeral used as prefix express a cardinal number, or a quantity. A numeral used as suffix express an ordinal number, or a position within a series. Examples: mmav = home, house, to live/dwell glonemmav = five houses mmaveglon = the fifth house Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 25
de used as prefix defines a pronominal ordinal number: deglon = the fifth one Other suffixes used with numerals are: ‐pa = with, more (addiction) ‐qa = without, minus (subtraction) ‐pli = ‐th (fractionary part) ‐twi = (power of a number) Examples: qwaxepli = one thirteenth fwit qwaxepli = 10/13 qwax vibeqa = 13 – 2 vibetwi = square of... vibeplitwi = to the ½ degree, square root of... qwax vibeplitwi = square root of thirteen 4.6. Giutunne – light words The gautunne are modified through prefixes or suffixes (giutunne): •
aspect prefixes (punctual, terminative, etc.) •
suffixes of gender (masculine, feminine, etc.) •
suffixes of number and determination (singular, plural, etc.) •
functional suffixes (nominative, genitive, etc.) •
spatial suffixes (in, above, under, etc.) •
temporal suffixes (before, while, etc.) •
tense suffixes (present, past, etc.) •
mood suffixes (negative, volitive, etc.) •
other affixes (affixes of relativity, transformational affixes, etc.) The order of giutunne within a word should follow the order of this list (e.g. a temporal suffix must precede the tense suffix). Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 26
4.7. Gender giutunne ‐ Ø ‐o ‐i ‐ozi indeterminate (masculine or feminine) masculine feminine mixed (group of both males and females) Examples: vut = person, man or woman (undefined gender) vuto = man vuti = woman vutozi = men and women 4.8. Giutunne of number and determination ‐ Ø ‐k ‐v ‐bin ‐s ‐dwin ‐hwin ‐tin ‐nil ‐nan ‐tan ‐lu ‐yu ‐byam absolutive singular plural collective negative omnicomprehensive indeterminative determinative proximal interlocutive distal partitive abundantive integrative indefinite number one element more than one element group of, set of, heap of no elements every, all a, any the this (close to the speaker) that (close to the listener) that (far from both speaker and listener) some, part of, a little of a lot of all, whole Examples: vut = a person, some people vutek = a person, the person vutev = people vutebin = a group vutes = nobody vutedwin = everybody vutehwin = a person vutetin = the person vutenil = this person vutenan = that person (close to you) vutetan = that person (far from me and you) vutelu = part of a person Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 27
vuteyu = a great part of a person vutebyam = a whole person Some more examples using more than one giutunne of number and determination: vutevelu = few people (plural + partitive) vutebineyu = a lot of people (collective + abundantive) vutekenil = this single person (singular + proximal) vutebinebyam = the whole group of people (collective + integrative) vutedwinenanes = not every person close to you (omnicomprehensive + interlocutive + negative) Note: in Muplo the singular is preferred when a category of thing, animals or people is considered. This is better explaned in the chapter about minimization. 4.9. Functional giutunne Functional giutunne express the logical function of a word within a sentence, just like cases do in slavic languages or prepositions in english. ‐ Ø ‐u ‐au ‐oi ‐kya ‐na ‐kla ‐fa ‐pa ‐qa ‐uin ‐swo ‐gyo nominative accusative vocative dative causative genitive argumentative comparative comitative privative instrumental concessive modal subject object oh... (invocation) to, for (addressee or finality) because of, for (cause) of (ownership or relationship) about (argument) than (comparation) with, together, more (union) without, but, minus, except with, through, by (instrument or means) despite, regardless of with, how (modal complement, similar to a modal adverb) Examples: xlam = hunger, to be hungry myax = walk, to walk ook = knife ciz woq = the fish eats nun woq cizu = I eat fish oqau! = oh you! nun plo oqoi = I talk to you nun woq xlamekya = I eat because of hunger myax cizena = the path of the fish ciz oqena = the fish (is) yours nun plo mmavekla = I talk about the fish nun myax oqepa = I walk with you Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 28
nun myax oqeqa = I walk without you nun woq cizu ookuin = I eat the fish with a knife nun xlam cizeswa = I am hungry despite the fish nun woq xalmegyo = I eat hungrily 4.10. Spatial giutunne The basic giutunne of spatial relationship are: ‐a ‐asu ‐anu ‐aswa ‐apwa locative allative ablative terminative egressive in, at (location) to, towards (direction of a movement going to somewhere) from (direction of a movement coming from somewhere) to, as far as (endpoint of a movement) from, starting from (origin of a movement) Esempi: iat = town iata = in the town iatasu = to the town iatanu = from the town iataswa = as far as the town iatapwa = starting from the town Other suffixes play the role of english prepositions and spatial adverbs: ‐mwil = up, on, above ‐mwol = down, under, beneath ‐blav= right of ‐klav = left of ‐zwil = in front of ‐zwol = behind ‐tlik = beside ‐tlok = between, in the middle, in the center, through ‐gig = on, attached to (with contact) ‐gog = away from ‐gwin = close to ‐gwon = far from ‐pwin = inside ‐pwon = outside ‐plug = around ‐yat = along, longitudinal to ‐wat = crossing, perpendicular to ‐yap = horizontally, lying down ‐wap = vertically, standing Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 29
All these giutunne can be mixed together. For example basic spatial giutunne can join non‐basic spatial giutunne, in order to express the feeling of movement, staticity, destination, etc.: mmavasupwin = from within the home (exit movement) Words corresponding to our adverbs “here”, “there”, “far” are built from the following keyword: hiq = place, to stay with additional determinatives like –nil, ‐tan... Examples: hiqa = here (generic static position) hiqenila = there (static position, close to the listener) hiqetana = there (static position, far from both speaker and listener) Spatial giutunne can also join a verb, for a better determination of the movement/location of the action. Example: nun lihiq = I stay nun lihiqeyap = I stay horizontally, I’m lying down 4.11. Temporal giutunne ‐sle ‐two ‐kwo ‐mle ‐tle ‐bag ‐big temporal antessive postessive iterative durative regressive postgressive in, at (punctual) before after every while, during ago, before (anterior in the past) in/within, after (successive in the future) Esempi: iu = day iusle = in the day iumle = every day iutle = during the day iutwo = before that day iukwo = after that day Durative can be combined with regressive or postgressive (‐tlebag, ‐tlebig), expressing a continuous action starting in the past or going on until a future instant: iutlebag = since that day iutlebig = until that day Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 30
4.12. Aspect giutunne The aspect is the first characteristic of a verb. It defines the temporal flow of an action. fi‐ lil‐ lol‐ pwi‐ ra‐ ja‐ nni‐ kki‐ yo‐ sui‐ wice‐ punctual progressive imminent habitual inceptive terminative anterior posterior simultaneous ripetitive innovative short or concluded action action going on action to be started usual or ripetitive action starting action ending action action before something else action after something else contemporaneous action action occurring again action occurring for the first time reference time
punctual
progressive .....
imminent habitual inceptive terminative anterior posterior simultaneous ripetitive innovative Examples: nun fiplo oqoi = I say you (right now) nun lilemyax oqepa = I’m walking with you nun lolemyax oqepa = I’m about to walk with you nun pwimyax oqepa = I walk with you usually nun ramyax oqepa = I’m beginning to walk with you Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 31
nun jamyax oqepa = I’m ending to walk with you nun nniplo’aa oqoi = I had said you; after I said you (previous past action; ‐aa is the past marker) nun kkiplo’aa oqoi = before I said you (successive past action; ‐aa is the past marker) nun yoplo oqoi... = while I’m saying you... nun suiplo oqoi = I say you again nun wiceplo oqoi = I say you for the first time 4.13. Tense giutunne The tense is the second characteristic of a verb in Muplo. It defines the time at, during, or over which a state or action denoted by a verb occurs. ‐Ø present, indefinite tense ‐aa past ‐ii future Examples: nun woq = I’m eating, I eat nun woqaa = I’ve eaten, I ate nun woqii = I will eat The lack of suffix expresses a present action or an undefined location in time. The latter meaning has an “absolutive” sense, characteristic of durative attributes or generical assertions, such as “she is nice”, “Napoli is in Italy” or “the human beings dies”. For example: cip = mind cap = body hu = and vutozi cipu hu capu = people (men and woman) have mind and body The lack of tense may also be a “mininization” feature of Muplo, as described further. When the tense is implicit in the sentence, the tense definition can be dropped. For example, a narrative sentence (such as a tale or a historical recording) does not require the past tense prefix. The same case occurs when an adverb or other words define the temporal position of an action: sitwo = tomorrow vuto woq cizu = the man ate a fish (within a narration) nun woqii cizu = I will eat a fish sitwo nun woq cizu = tomorrow I will eat a fish The combination of anterior aspect and past/future tense express what in english is known as “pluperfect” or future perfect: an action occurring before another. For example: nun finniwoqaa cizu, (nun) woqaa ioku = I ate the bread, after I had eaten the fish (fi‐ is the punctual marker, describing here a terminated action) nun finniwoqii cizu, (nun) woqii ioku = I will eat the bread, after I will have eaten the fish Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 32
The combination with posterior aspect renders an action occuring after another. For example: nun kkiwoqaa cizu, (nun) woqaa ioku = I ate the bread, then I ate the fish nun kkiwoqii cizu, (nun) woqii ioku = I will eat the bread, then I will eat the fish 4.14. Mood giutunne The mood is the third characteristic of a verb in Muplo. It expresses many different characteristic of a verb, including “negativity” (normally defined as polarity, not as mood), and other features marked in english by other auxilliary verbs (as “to must”, “to can”) or circonlocutions (as “to have to” or “people know that...”). ‐qe ‐ke ‐mao ‐hao ‐guu ‐kka ‐bu ‐fi ‐fuut ‐pi ‐di ‐boa ‐luut negative affermative conditional concessive optative imperative dubitative volitive decisive debitive potential permissive inferential an action that does not occur a confirmed action the action expresses a condition the action does not prevent from something else a desired, hoped action it expresses an order an action is not for sure as in english “to want” a chosen action (decision) as in english “to must” as in english “to can”: ability as in english “to can”: permission a reported or retailed action Examples: do lileploqe oqoi = he is not talking to you do lileploke oqoi = he is really talking to you do lileplomao oqoi... = if he is talking to you... do lileplohao oqoi... = even though he is talking to you... do ploguu oqoi = if he only would talk to you; I hope he talk to you oq plokka = talk! do lileplobu oqoi = perhaps he is talking to you do plofi oqoi = he wants to talk to you do plofuut oqoi = we decides to talk with you; he wants to talk to you do plopi oqoi = he must talk to you do plodi oqoi = he is able to talk to you; he can talk to you do ploboa oqoi = he is allowed to talk to you, he can talk to you do ploluut oqoi = we know that he talks to you Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 4.15. Intensity giutunne Quality and intensity of adjectives, verbs or nouns are expressed by some prefixes: kia‐ = very, much, big, large ai‐ = very much, extremely (emphatic) yab‐ = about, more or less ti‐ = little, a little lak‐ = very little, almost nothing (emphatic) bia‐ = enough lare‐ = not enough mu‐ = good, nice ru‐ = bad, ugly Examples: kiahoih = very red larehoih = not enough red mummav = nice house rummav = ugly house 4.16. Comparation giutunne Comparation is expressed by some prefixes: nyak‐ = more byak‐ = less lun‐ = most, maximal bun‐ = least, minimal The compared element brings the comparative marker (–fa). Examples: mmav hoihel = the house is red mmav nyakehoihel detanefa = the house is more red than that one mmav lunehoihel dedwinefa = the house is the most red of all The prefixes can also change the meaning of a verb, for example: di woq = she eats di byakewoq nunefa = she eats less than me di bunewoq = she eats the least 4.17. Transformational giutunne Transformational giutunne are affixes that change the class of a word. They transform attributes into actions, verbs into nouns, etc. 33
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 34
from/to noun noun transitive verb ‐se = active participle ‐be = passive participle maz‐ = infinite intransitive verb ‐se = active participle maz‐ = infinite adjective zuu‐ = ‐ty, ‐ness transitive verb hwa‐ = to let..., to make... intransitive verb adjective ssa‐ = to become... vyu‐ = ‐ose, ‐ly ‐se = active participle ‐be = passive participle vyu‐ = ‐ose, ‐ly ‐se = active participle vyu‐ = ‐ose, ‐ly ssa‐ = to become... Suffixes –se e –be trasform a verb into a noun/adjective. The active participle is equivalent to the english present participle (to listen Æ listening). The passive participle is equivalent to the english past participle (to listen Æ listened). Furthermore, all other verbal properties (time, mood, aspect...) can be specified. ‐se = active participle ‐be = passive participle Examples: woqese = eatening; eater; that who eats woqaase = that who ate woqiise = that who will eat woqebe = eaten; that who is eaten woqaabe = eaten; that who has been eaten woqiibe = eaten; that who will be eaten woqepise = that who must eat (‐pi is the debitive marker) Other transformational giutunne change a noun/adjective into a verb or a noun into an adjective: hwa‐ = to let..., to make... (from noun/adjective to transitive action) ssa‐ = to become... (from noun/adjective to intransitive verb) vyu‐ = ‐ose, ‐ly (from noun to adjective) zuu‐ = ‐ty, ‐ness (from adjective to abstract noun) maz‐ = infinite (from verb to noun denoting the act) Examples: dyip = to slip aal = yes hwahoih = to make red ssahoih = to become red vyudyip = slippery zuu’aal = truth mazedyip = the act of slipping, the slipping Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 35
4.18. Adjectives The position of adjectives in Muplo may vary. The most significant cases are: 1. adjective as prefix, attached to the noun 2. adjective as predicative verb, following the subject 3. adjective as attribute embedded in a relative sentence Case 1. fits for many common situations, when an attribute and a noun go together. For example: hoih + mmav = hoihemmav = red house Case 2. is better described in next paragraph. For example: mmav hoih = the house is red Case 3. is useful when the complexity of sentences requires some logical cleanup. The simplest system is nesting, by creating a relative sentence (as further described in the corresponding paragraph). E.g.: mmavetin, vyade hoih hu tat, mliketloka = the house, which is red and white, lies in the middle of the valley In the last example, vyade is the relative pronoun. 4.19. Implicit verb An important feature of Muplo is that some transitive and intransitive verbs may be implicit or “unexpressed”. In other words, they can simply be dropped, being expressed by other linguistic elements. The most important implict verb is “to be” (as predicative verb, expressing a quality or a condition of the subject). There is no corresponding Muplo verb, for example: yoaz = high oq yoaz = you are high Hence, without an explicit verb, verbal tense, aspect or mood modify directly the subject: oqii cizevut = you will be a fisher oqeluut cizevut = we know you are a fisher ... or the predicate, instead of the subject. This is recommended in case of quality gautunne (corresponding to our adjectives), which have a double meaning of adjective and predicative verb (e.g. hoih = red, to be red). For example: oq yoazii = you will be tall oq yoazeluut = we know you are tall Similarly, location and motion verbs as “to stay”, “to go”, “to come” are implied by location and motion complements: nun iatasu = I go to the town nunaa iatasu = I went to the town nun iatapwa = I come from the town The verb “to have” (with meaning of possession) must be dropped when the subject is followed by an object (with accusative suffix –u). And the negative form “not to have” is implied by the privative Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev complement (suffix ‐qa). For examples: nun mmavu = I have a home nunii mmavu = I will have a home nun mmaveqa = I have not any home; I am without home 4.20. Gautunne: de, hiq, hot, vut Instead of some very common words as “this”, “that”, “who” or “which”, Muplo prefers to derive them from some keywords: de = he/she/it (3rd person singular pronoun) hot = thing vut = person The gautunne “de” is the most abstract of all, pointing to something or somebody we are talking about. Some simple examples are: accusative: du = it, that, him ,her (generic) vutu = him, her (person) dative: doi = him, her, to it, them (generic) vutoi = him, her, them (persona) genitive: dena = its, his, her (generic) hotena = its (thing) vutena = his, her (person) and more: dekya/hotekya = therefore degyo/hotegyo = so denil/hotenil = this dedwin = all (generic) hotedwin = all (things) vuetdwin = each one, everybody des / hotes = nothing vutes = nobody Another use of these generic gautunne is the transformation of an adjective into a substantive, for example: nun pwiplo vibehiloi; oq dluxaa fah hoihevutu = I use to talk to the three sons; you know only the red‐
headed one (literally: you’ve seen only the red person) So “the red one” becomes hoihevut or hoihehot, depending on its nature of person or thing. 36
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 37
4.21. Interrogative giutunne Prefixes me‐ and za‐ express the meaning of “interrogation”, just like interrogative adverbs and pronouns in english. me‐ = which? how? (choice, collocation, quality) za‐ = how much? (measurable or numerable quantity) Some examples: prefix me‐: mehot /mevut = what? who? (subject) mehotu / mevutu = what? / whom? (object) mehotoi /mevutoi = what to? / to whom? mehotekwa / mevutekwa = why? / for whom? mehotena /mevutena = of what? / whose? mehotegyo = how? etc. prefix za‐: zahot/zavut = how many? (subject) zahotu/zahotu = how many? (object) etc. These prefixes can go together with any word, for example: me’ian = which lake? memmav = which house? If the word attached to za‐ has and undefined number or is singular, then za‐ has the meaning of “how much”, or “how big”, “how large”. Else za‐ has the meaning of “how many”. For example: rat = light biu = star zarat? = how much light? zaratev? = how many lights? zabiuv? = how many stars? za’ianek = how a big lake? za’ianev = how many lakes? zahotek = how much big? Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 38
4.22. Gautunne: hiq The keyword hiq (place) originates several motion or location expressions: hiqedwina = everywhere hiqesa = nowhere da/hiqa = here mehiqa = where? mehiqasu = to where? mehiqanu = from where? and so on. 4.23. Gautunne: wa, si The keywords si (today, the current day) and wa (instant, moment) originate several time expressions, for example: sisle = today sitwo = tomorrow sitwotwo = the day after tomorrow sikwo = yesterday sikwokwo = the day before yesterday tiwabig = soon bunewabig = immediately wanilesle / desle = now waniletwo / detwo = later wanilekwo / dekwo = before wasesle = never wadwinesle = always ( punctual) wahwinesle = sometimes ( punctual) mewasle = when? (punctual) mewabag = since when? zawatle = how long? 4.24. Direct questions Direct questions are introduced by aun: aun = question, to ask Example: piik = tired aun oq piikel? = are you tired? If the question express some doubt, the word nnig starts the sentence: nnig = doubt, to ask by partially knowing the answer Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 39
Example: nnig oq piikel? = aren’t you tired? Whether a question begins with an interrogative word (built with me‐ or za‐) there is no need of aun, but nnig would be necessary. Example: (aun) mehiqa oq? = where are you? nnig mehiqa oq? = where are you? (retorically: we know the possible answer) 4.25. Relative sentences The prefix vya‐ is the base for many Muplo equivalents of relative pronouns. vya‐ = that, who, which (relative pronoun) Examples: zwik = other, different zwak = same, equal nun hiq mmava, vyahiqa zwikev hiq = I live in a house, where others live nun dluxaa oqu, vyawasle nunaa mmavasupwin = I saw you entering at home (in the moment that...) If the relative sentence is simply predicative, the prefix vya‐ can join directly to the predicate (adjective or noun). For example: nun mmavu,vyahot/vyade hoih= I have a house, that is red but also: nun mmavu, vyahoih = I have a house, that is red 4.26. Subordination The word ke introduce a subordinate sentence: ke = the object of our speech; what we are talking about Examples: hyab = knowledge, to know piv = again nun hyab, ku oq hiq da = I know, that you are living here (objective subordinate) nun woqii, kekwo piv mmava = I will eat, when I’ll be back home (after that...) nun woqeqe, kekya nun xlameqe =I don’t eat, because I’m not hungry (causal subordinate) A hypothetic sentence (an if‐sentence) requires the mood conditional suffix ‐mao: nunemao xlam, jiv nun woq = if I’m hungry, then I eat The dubitative clause (“if” or “whether”) requires aun with accusative case. It’s equivalent to an indirect question: nun hyabeqe, aunu oq xlam = I don’t know, if you are hungry aun oq xlam? = are you hungry? Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 40
4.27. Transactional gautunne The transactional gautunne express the subject and the object of an action in some particular cases. nain = myself, yourself, himself... (reflexive) klal = other (passive) qlal = each other (reciprocal) These gautunne may stand alone, as nouns or pronouns. For example: nun lolemyax, hu klalev lolemyaxeqe = we are going to walk, but the others are not When these gautunne follow a verb, they transform the verb into its reflexive, reciprocal or passive form. The agent of a passive form is rendered by the causative (‐kya). For example: nun moog aisu = I sniff a flower nun moogenain = io sniff myself nun moogeklal pwijekya= io am sniffed by a cat huuq moogeqlal = we sniff each other When these gautunne are heading a word, they express the idea of reciprocity, “otherness” or “selfness”. naineglan = to agree with ourselves nun dluxaa klalevutu = I saw an other person qlaleffag = reciprocal gesture 4.28. Principle of minimization Muplo is based on the principle of minimization. In other words, the minimal number of necessary giutunne should be used to express exactly our thought. Minimization bans the linguistic redundancy, trying to make sentences and words the more synthetic and compact as possible. Some useful examples, grouped by topic, are as follows: Number: the absolutive number is always preferred when you are referring to one single object, or to an abstract object, or to a category of objects, or a couple of objects (e.g. eyes, legs...). Only when the uniqueness must be expressed without ambiguity, then we can mark the singular number (prefix ‐k). Examples: vut woqepi gonemle = the man/the men/all the men must eat every day oqena nwi baab = your eyes are blue vutek woq cizu = one single man eats a fish do nwikeqe = he is without an eye (only one) Gender: the undefined gender is always preferred when the sex of the human or animal is implicit, or if we do not want to express it utterly, or if we do not know it for sure, or when we are referring to a mixed category of males and females. Verbal tense: the present/indefinite tense is also preferred in case of tales or reports about past or future events. Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 41
5. Lexical topics 5.1. Gautunne – adverbs an conjunctions Some important adverbs and conjunctions are: hu = and, moreover ju = but, although, though jiv = then fah = only 5.2. Opposite gautunne In Muplo many words belong to couples of opposite meanings. The two opposite gautunne are distinguishable for alternation of the thematic vowel <a>/<i>. The word with <a> is the “strong gautunne”, while the word with <i> is the “weak” one. The vowel alternation may be <a>/<i>, but also <aa>/<ii>, <oa>/<oi>, <au>/<iu>... Opposite words may represent not only opposite concepts, but even complementary ones (e.g. body/mind). Some examples strong gautunne with <a> weak gautunne with <i> yoiz = low yoaz = high giut= light gaut = heavy vin = little van = big klas = complex, difficult klis= simple, easy qaaq = memory, to remember qiiq = oblivion, to forget tit = black tat = white bii = sad baa = happy liil = hate, to hate laal = love, to love cip = mind cap = body A compound of two opposite words can express an intermediate idea, or a combination of both them. The latter is the case of complementary gautunne (e.g. body/mind). Normally the weak gautunne, with thematic vowel <i>, comes first. Examples: titetat = gray (white + black) cipecap = psychophysical unity of a person (mind + body) Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 42
5.3. Dates The days of the week are simply numbered, starting from zero (Monday): “day zero”, “day one”, etc. iu = day yohiu = week YOHIUNA IUBIN (Muplo weekdays): iuqqal = Monday iujah = Tuesday iuvib = Wednesday iuwox = Thursday iu’oot = Friday iuglon = Saturday iunnum = Sunday An expression like “the second day” requires a relative construction with vya‐: iu, vya’oot = the fourth day Muplo months are 17 for year, with an alternation of 21 and 22 days. ruq = year cave = Muplo month The cave start with the spring equinox, which falls on March the 20th or 21st, depending on the year. Even the months are numbered from zero to sixteen. In a leap year, the first month (caveqqal) has 22 days instead of 21. This allows to Muplo calendar to be aligned with our gregorian calendar. CAVEBIN (Muplo months): caveqqal (21/22 days) cavejah (22 days) cavevib (21 days) cavewox (22 days) cavoot (21 days) caveglon (22 days) cavennum (21 days) caveyoh (22 days) caveyid (21 days) cavoap (22 days) cavefwit (21 days) cavepaf (22 days) cavenlos (21 days) caveqwax (22 days) cavezok (21 days) cavesiil (22 days) cavewum(21 days) Within a cave the days are numbered starting from zero. Since Muplo months start their cycle later than ours, conversions between two calendars are a little Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 43
complicated. Then January the 10th 2005 belongs to year 2004 of Muplo calendar, but a gregorian date such as May the 10th 2005 belongs to year 2005 of Muplo calendar. Moreover Muplo years are not counted from the birthday of Jesus Christ. Their numbering starts from 989 DC, an year universally known for not having any interesting event to remember. This year is marked with number zero. Then year 1018 M (Muplo) corresponds to 2008 DC, and so on. Let us see an example. In 2008, the spring equinox falls on March, 20th. Then: March, 20th 2008 Æ day zero (first one) of caveqqal of the year 1018 M. March, 19th 2008 Æ day 20 (last one) of cavewum of the previous year 1017 M A full date in Muplo has the following form: weekday – day – month ‐ year. For example: iuwox 0 caveqqal 1018 = Thursday March, 20th 2008 In order to reduce the huge complexity of conversions, it is allowed to express dates in gregorian format. In this case the months are numbered from 0 to 11 (0=January, 1=February,... 11=December). Example: iuwox/20/2/2008 = Thursday March, 20th 2008 kiacave = standard month KIACAVEBIN (standard months): kiacaveqqal (0) = January kiacavejah (1) = February kiacavevib (2) = March kiacavewox (3) = April kiacavoot (4) = May kiacaveglon (5) = June kiacaveyoh (6) = July kiacaveyid (7) = August kiacavoap (8) = September kiacavefwit (9) = October kiacavepaf (10) = November kiacavenlos (11) = December This is the standard question about the date: miusle huuq? = what day is it? (in which day are we?) huuq iusle, vyade iuwox 20 kiacavevib 2008 = today is Thursday March, 20th 2008 Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 44
5.4. Time The standard division of time in Muplo is based on number 17, just like the numerical system does. The day (iu) is divided into 17 “Muplo hours” (kiajuup), each of them is divided into 17 “Muplo big minutes” (juup), each of them is divided into 17 “Muplo little minutes” (bijuup), each of them is still divided into 17 “Muplo seconds” (lakejuup). name definition duration subdivision iu day 24 hours 17 kiajuup kiajuup Muplo hour approx. 85 minutes 17 juup juup Muplo big minute approx. 5 minutes 17 bijuup bijuup Muplo little minute approx. 17 seconds 17 lakejuup lakejuup Muplo second approx. 1,03 second ‐ Surprisingly, one lakejuup is approximately long as a standard second. It was defined as “the heart pace of a relaxed man”. The bijuup is not very used and not very useful. It was defined as “the sustainable time for a close encounter with an unpleasant person”. A juup is more relevant for everyday life and it was defined as “the time for waiting a while without getting bored”. The kiajuup has the same duration of most movie pictures. It was defined as “the right time for a visit to a relative or for a conversation about love problems”. Old muplo clocks had two hands, one for juup and one shorter for kiajuup. The next picture displays a muplo clock of the beginning of the XX century: Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 45
Modern muplo time division is based on our standard system (24 hours – 60 minutes – 60 seconds). Here is an example of small conversation about time: mewasle huuq? = what time is it? (in which time are we?) huuq wasle, vyade vib = it’s two o’clock (we’re in time two) huuq wasle, vyade yoh hu vibepli = it’s half past seven huuq wasle, vyade yoh hu siil = it’s 7.15 5.5. Colours In Muplo there are some basic nomes for primary colours: tit
tat
hoih
zuun
yok
baab
xiad
kouk
black white red green blue light blue magenta, fuchsia yellow ...and compound names for derived colours: ??? titetat
hoihetat
hoihekouk
hoihezuun
koukezuun
xiadebaab
xiadeyok
xiadezuun
gray pink orange dark brown beige, light brown lilac, light violet dark violet, indigo undefined, “kitsch” colour (magenta with green) Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 46
5.6. Seasons The Muplo calendar divides the year into five seasons (ruqeyug), of variable lenghth. Every season takes its name from a colour. name zuuneruqeyug translation green season koukeruqeyug yellow season hoiheruqeyug red season titeruqeyug black season tateruqeyug white season corresponding cave caveqqal cavejah cavevib cavewox cavoot caveglon cavennum caveyoh caveyid cavoap cavefwit cavepaf cavenlos caveqwax cavezok cavesiil cavewum 5.7. Useful phrases Here we present some useful phrases for everyday life: zad = name ore = to be (about health), health/constitution toa = excuse, to excuse sus = value, cost, to cost mai = thank, to thank tuf = hole jis = urine, to urinate jisetuf = toilet vio = dance, to dance fya = to understand, understanding paax = fast, quick piix = slow nwiik = kind, polite nwaak = nasty, harsh, unpleasant nwiikaun = to please, to ask kindly yaaq = to write yiiq = to read properties time for spring and new life (spring equinox – may) time for sun and harvest (may – september) time for decadence and red leaves (september – november) time for long nights (november – january) time for silence and snow (january – march) Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev cau = sweet ciu = bitter uu = water mpaeloe = mpelo (language close to Muplo) kkux = pig itte = empty (+ INSTR) atte = full (+INSTR) suis = civil suas = military voan = to protect voanevut = guard, keeper suisevoanevut = policeman, agent hwiqeciz = eel boal = world, earth flure = price, to pay sasse = to bring, to move sisse = to stop, to keep steady dare = boat, ship auzehuidare = hovercraft aal = yes (true) iil = no (false) iilaal = maybe mude kekya ja’oq hiqaswa = welcome (it’s nice because you arrived here) ire = hello mu’iu = good morning / good afternoon (with daylight) mugad = good evening / good night (from sunset to dawn) qlaledluxiiguu huuq = bye! / see you again (I hope that we’ll see each other) ttolekka! = good bye (be the destiny!) moregyo oq? = how are you? nun mu’ore = I’m fine nun ru’ore = I’m bad nun yabore = so so oqoi mu’iu = have a nice day oq mu’oreguu tiwabig = get well soon lileqlaledluxeqe aiwatle huuq = long time no see muqlalewicehyab = pleased to meet you (it’s nice to meet each other for the very first time) mezadu oq? = what’s your name? nunena zad XXX = my name is XXX mehiqa oq mmav? = where do you live? nunena mmav Badri‘a = I live in Bari (my home is in Bari) mehiqapwa oq? = where are you from? nun Badripwa = I come from Bari 47
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev muttole = good luck mu’ore = cheers/good health muwoq = bon appetit mutlon = bon voyage oq nunu toakka = excuse me ti’ouq / nun bii denanekla = sorry nun mai = thank you nun oqu laal = I love you zasus denanena? = how much is this? mehiqa jisetuf? = where's the toilet? nnig oq loleviofi? = would you like to dance? nun fyaqe = I don't understand nwiikaun kena oq suiploguu du = please say that again nwiikaun kena oq byaxepiixeploguu = please speak more slowly nwiikaun kena oq yaaqeguu du = please write it down mehotegyo oq plo...? = how do you say ...? aun oq plo...? = do you speak ...? leave me alone! help! fire! stop! call the police! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Happy Easter Happy Birthday nunena auzehuidare atte hwiqecizevuin = my hovercraft is full of eels plok biahot wasesle = one language is never enough jax sissekka boalu, nunasumwolefi! = stop the world, i want to get off! muvutotin/muvutitin flurii dedwinekya = this gentleman/lady will pay for everything deniledwin mpaeloefa nunoi = it's all Greek to me (it’s all like mpelo to me) it's raining cats and dogs as easy as falling off a log a sandwich short of a picnic kkux yassiimao... = when pigs fly... 48
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 49
6. Texts 6.1. Example 1 "Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." "What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember. from “The Little Prince” by A. De Saint‐Exupéry “Ttolekka!” cus fiplo. “Denil fyip nunena. De kiaklis: jax mudlux fah maamui. Lunennaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla.”. “Lunannaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla” vin rumehilo suifiplo, koi do qaaqii hotu. “Ttolekka!” cus fiplo. “Denil fyip nunena. De kiaklis: jax əˈt:ølək:a
ɮus
fiˈplø ˈdənil
fjip
ˈnunəna də
ˈkiaklis
ɲax “let‐the‐destiny‐be!” fox says this‐is secret my it‐is very‐simple one mudlux fah maamuin. Lunennaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla.” muˈdlux fah ˈma:muin
lunəˈn:a:səjug ˈdluxəʃədibə
ˈnwikla well‐sees only heart‐INSTR essential‐is seen‐NEG‐POT eye‐ARG “Lunennaseyug dluxeqedibe nwikla” vin rumehilo suifiplo, lunəˈn:a:səjug ˈdluxəʃədibə
ˈnwikla
vin
ɣuməˈhilø suifiˈplø essential‐is seen‐NEG‐POT eye‐ARG little king‐son says koi do qaaqii hotu. køi
dø
ˈʃa:ʃi:
ˈhøtu so‐that he will‐remember that cus = fox fyip = secret yug = part, component nnas = importance, important lunennaseyug= quintessence, what is essential rum = king hilo = son rumehilo = prince Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 50
6.2. Example 2 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Vutozidwin dodye vyade hul hu zwak nainemwaffekla hu voaneramevekla. Vutozi fifis cikkekuufu hu nainekuufu, hu dozi puneqlalepi qlalevutezuagyo. (article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) dodye = birth, to be born zua = knot, bond, to bind, to tie qlalevutezua = brotherhood mwaffe = respect, to respect nainemwaffe = dignity ram = law voaneram = right (protection law) fas = to give fis = to receive hul = free pun = action, to do, to act kuuf = thought, to think cikke = logical, rational cikkekuuf = reason, logical thought nainekuuf = conscience Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 51
6.3. Example 3 The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped in a warm cloak. They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveler take his cloak off should be considered stronger than the other. Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more closely did the traveler fold his cloak around him; and at last the North Wind gave up the attempt. Then the Sun shined out warmly and immediately the traveler took off his cloak. And so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two. Xladefwam hu Gyav lileqlaleglineluut, mevutekla vyalunegaat, watanesle hiqetinaswa jatlonevut, vyade sunnebe atecipeqlutuin. Vibede jaglan kekla de, vyade japun dejahefa, koi tlonevut byit qlutu nainena, de klalenwacepi nyakegaatefa. Hu Xladefwam raffuf gaategyo, kegyo dedi. Ju hotetinegyo tlonevut nyakebyat qlutu naineplug, hu Xladefwam kkibyit vaivu. Detwo Gyav airat ategyo, hu bunewabig tlonevut byat qlutu nainegog. Detinegyo Xladefwam kkiplopi, ku Gyaveke lunegaat vibedefa. Xladefwam hu Gyav lileqlaleglineluut, mevutekla vyalunegaat, watanesle hiqetinaswa North‐wind and Sun PROGR‐RECIPR‐discuss‐REFER who‐ARG REL‐strongest when to‐there xladəˈfʷam
hu
gʲav liləʃlaləˈglinəlu:t
məˈvutəkla vʲalunəˈga:t
ˈβʷatanəslə ˈhiʃətinasʷa jatlonevut, vyade sunnebe atecipeqlutuin. Vibede jaglan kekla de, TERM‐traveler‐is who wrapped warm‐cloak‐INSTR. The‐two TERM‐agree about‐that that‐one ɲatlønəˈvut
vʲadə ˈsun:əbə atəɮipəˈʃlutuin
vibəˈdə
ɲaˈglan
ˈkəkla
də
vyade japun dejahefa, koi tlonevut byit qlutu nainena, which TERM‐does as‐first‐one so‐that traveler leaves cover his vʲaˈdə
ɲaˈpun
ˈdəɲahəfa
køi
tlønəˈvut bʲit
ˈʃlutu ˈnainəna
de klalenwacepi nyakegaatefa. Hu Xladefwam raffuf gaategyo, that‐one must‐be‐considered as‐stronger. Then North‐wind INCEPT‐blows strongly də
klaləˈnʷaɮəpi
nʲakəˈga:təfa
hu
xladəˈfʷam
ɣaˈf:u:f
ˈga:təgʲø
kegyo dedi. Ju hotetinegyo tlonevut nyakebyat qlutu naineplug, hu Xladefwam as he‐could but in‐that‐way traveler more‐takes cover around‐himself and North‐wind ˈkəgʲø
ˈdədi
ɲu
ˈhøtətinəgʲø tlønəˈvut nʲakəˈbʲat
ˈʃlutu ˈnainəplug
hu
xladəˈfʷam
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 52
kki‐byit vaivu. Detwo Gyav airat ategyo, hu bunewabig tlonevut byat POST‐abandons attempt. Then Sun shines warmly and immediately traveler takes ək:i:ˈbʲit
ˈvaivu
ˈdətʷø
gʲav aiˈɣat ˈatəgʲø
hu
bunəˈβʷabig tlønəˈvut bʲat
qlutu nainegog. Detinegyo Xladefwam kkiplopi, ku Gyaveke lunegaat vibedefa. cover away‐from‐himself. That‐way Nort‐wind POST‐must‐say that Sun‐is‐AFF strongest COMP‐the‐two. ˈʃlutu
ˈnainəgøg
ˈdətinəgʲø
xlid = south tlone‐vut = traveler sunne = envelope, to wrap cipe‐qlut = cloak glan = agreement, to agree glin = discussion, to discuss nwace = to consider uap = rich uip = poor byat = to take, to catch byit = to leave, to abandon, to give up vaiv = task, attempt ai‐rat = shining, to shine xladəˈfʷam
ək:i:ˈpløpi
ku
gʲav
lunəˈga:t
vibəˈdəfa
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 53
7. Dictionary The following dictionary, although uncomplete, collect all the words found in this grammar. The single elements (gautunne and giutunne) of compound words are highlighten (e.g. mu‐plo). Abbreviations: G = gautunne g = giutunne C = compound word N = noun P = pronoun Num = numeral A = adjective TV = transitive verb IV = intransitive verb AC = adverb or conjunction Word IPA transcription Type Meaning ‐a a
‐aa a:
g case: locative Opposite
word g tense: past aal a:l
G iil ai‐ ai
ai‐nya aiˈnʲa
g A: true AC: yes N: name of the letter <aa> very much, extremely (emphatic) C N: ocean ainyi ai‐nyi aiˈnʲi
ai‐rat aiˈɣat
C N: continent ainya C ais ais
‐anu anu
G N: shining IV: to shine N: flower, name of the letter <ai> g case: ablative aok ˈaɯk
‐apwa apʷa
G N: horse, name of the letter <ao> g case: egressive are ˈaɣə
‐asu asu
G TV: to ignore are g case: allative ‐aswa asʷa
at at
g case: terminative G it atte ˈat:ə:
‐au aɯ
G A: hot, warm N: heat, name of the letter <a> A: full (+INSTR) g case: vocative aun aɯn
G aune‐wiiz aɯnəˈβʷi:ð
auz ˈaɯð
C TV: to ask N: question N: question mark G N: flight, name of the letter <au> itte Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 54
C IV: to fly N: hovercraft G A: happy bii baab ba:b
‐bag bag
G A: light blue g case: regressive ‐be bə
bia‐ bia
g passive participle g enough ‐big big
bii bi:
g case: postgressive G A: sad baa bi‐juup biˈɲu:p
C ‐bin bin
biu biu
g N: Muplo little minute (17 lakejuup≈ approx. 17 seconds) number: collective G N: star, name of the letter <b> C N: space between words G N: pleasure IV: to feel pleasure right of blim auze‐hui‐dare aɯðəhuiˈdaɣə
baa ba:
bi‐yof biˈjøf
blam blam
‐blav blav
blim blim
g blam g N: pain, name of the letter <bl> IV: to feel pain mood: permissive G N: world, earth ‐bu bu
bun‐ bun
g mood: dubitative g least, minimal bune‐wa‐big bunəˈβʷabig
bwog bʷøg
C AC: immediately, very soon G N: disk, plate, name of the letter <bw> byak‐ bʲak
‐byam bʲam
g less g number: integrative byat bʲat
byit bʲit
G TV: to take, to catch byit G TV: to leave, to abandon, to give up byat byotte ˈbʲøt:ə:
cap ɮap
G N: shoulder, name of the letter <by> G N: body cip cau ɮa
cave ˈɮavə
G A: sweet ciu G N: Muplo month cikke ˈɮik:ə:
cikke‐kuuf ɮik:ə:ˈku:f
G A: logical, rational C N: reason, logical thought cip ɮip
cipe‐cap ɮipəˈɮap
G N: mind cap C cipe‐qlut ɮipəˈʃlut
ciu ɮiu
C N: psychophysical unity of a person (mind + body) N: cloak G A: bitter cau ‐boa bɯa
boal bɯal
G Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 55
ciz ɮið
cus ɮus
G N: fish, name of the letter <c> G N: fox dare ˈdaɣə
de də
G N: boat, ship G P: he, she, it (third singular person) de‐kwo ˈdəkʷø
de‐sle ˈdəslə
C AC: before C AC: now de‐two ˈdətʷø
‐di di
C AC: later g mood: potential dlux dlux
G dodye ˈdødʲə
G domme ˈdøm:ə:
dwi dʷi
G N: sight, vision, name of the letter <dl> TV: to see N: birth IV: to be born N: feast, celebration, name of the letter <d> G N: wave, name of the letter <dw> ‐dwin dʷin
dyaje dʲal
g number: omnicomprehensive G N: leg, name of the letter <dy> dyip dʲip
G ‐fa fa
fah fah
g N: slip IV: to slip case: comparative G AC: only fas fas
ffag əˈf:a:g
G N: to give fis G ffage‐plo əf:a:gəˈplø
C ffuf əˈf:u:f
G ‐fi fi
fi‐ fi
g N: gesture IV: to make a gesture N: gesture language TV: to say/talk by gestures N: blow, breath, name of letter <ff> TV: to blow, to breathe mood: volitive g aspect: punctual fis fis
flah flah
G N: to receive fas G Num: 289 (17 x 17) flat flat
G flure ˈfluɣə
G foo fø:
G ‐fuut fu:t
fuv fuv
g N: finger, name of the letter <fl> TV: to point, to indicate N: price TV: to pay N: wall, name of the letter <f> TV: to surround mood: decisive G P: they (third plural person) G N: wind, name of the letter <fw> G Num: 10 (ten) fwam fʷam
fwit fʷit
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 56
fya fʲa
G fyace ˈfʲaɮə
G fyip fʲip
G gaat ga:t
gad gad
G N: understanding TV: to understand N: car, vehicle with four wheels, name of the letter <fy> TV: to drive a vehicle N: secret A: secret A: strong G N: night, name of the letter <g> gaut gaɯt
gaute‐plo‐haan gaɯtəpløˈha:n
G A: heavy giut C N: dipthong or long vowel gaute‐plo‐kak gaɯtepløˈkak
C gaut‐unne gaɯtˈun:ə:
‐gig gig
C N: fire consonant (<c>, <r>, <j>) or consonant cluster N: gautunne, “heavy word” g on ,attached to (with contact) giit gi:t
giut giut
G A: weak gaat G A: light gaut giute‐plo‐haan giutəpløˈha:n
giute‐plo‐kak giutəpløˈkak
C N: vowel C N: consonant (stone, soil or water) giut‐unne giutˈun:ə:
glan glan
C N: giutunne, “light word” G glin glin glin
G glon gløn
G ‐gog gøg
‐guu gu:
g N: agreement TV: to agree N: discussion TV: to discuss Num: 5 (five) N: name of the letter <gl> away from g mood: optative gwa gʷa
‐gwin gʷin
G N: river, name of the letter <gw> g close to ‐gwon gʷøn
gyav gʲav
g far from G N: sun, name of the letter <gy> g case: modal G N: voice G A: open hiok C N: name of the letter <e> (schwa) hil hil
hiok hiøk
G N: son, daughter G A: closed haok hioke‐wiiz hiøkəˈβʷi:ð
hiq hiʃ
C N: name of the letter <’> (glottal stop) G N: place IV: to stay ‐gyo gʲø
haan ha:n
haok haɯ
haoke‐wiiz haɯkəˈβʷi:ð
giit glan Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 57
hlo hlø
hoih høih
G N: tree, name of the letter <hl> G A: red hoihe‐kouk høihəˈkøuk
hoihe‐ruqe‐yug høihəɣuʃəˈjug C A: orange C N: Muplo red season hoihe‐tat høihəˈtat
hoihe‐zuun høihəˈðu:n
C A: pink C A: dark brown hot høt
hu hu
G N: thing G AC: and, moreover hui hui
G hul hul
huuq hu:ʃ
G N: cloud, name of the letter <h> IV: to float A: free G P: we (first plural inclusive person) hwa‐ hʷa
g ‐hwin hʷin
hwiq hʷiʃ
g to let..., to make... (from noun/adjective to transitive action) number: indeterminative N: snake, name of the letter <hw> IV: to crawl N: eel G hwiqe‐ciz hʷiʃəˈɮuð
hyab hʲab
C G hyib hʲib
G ‐i i
ian ian
g N: knowledge, name of the letter <hy> TV: to know N: ignorance TV: to ignore gender: feminine G N: lake, name of the letter <ia> iaq iaʃ
iat iat
G Num: 1,419,857 (83,521 x 17) G N: city, town ‐ii i:
iil i:l
g tense: future G aal C A: false AC: no N: name of the letter <ii> AC: maybe G N: bread, name of the letter <io> ire ˈiɣə
G are it it
G G TV: to greet N: greeting, hello, name of the <i> A: cold, cool N: cold A: empty (+INSTR) iu iu
iu‐‘oot ˈiuʔø:t
G N: day, name of the letter <iu> C N: Friday iu‐glon ˈiuʔgløn
iu‐jah ˈiuɲah
C N: Saturday C N: Tuesday iil‐aal i:lˈa:l
iok iøk
itte hyib hyab at atte Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 58
iu‐nnum ˈiun:u:m
iu‐qqal ˈiuʃ:a:l
C N: Sunday C N: Monday iu‐vib ˈiuvib
iu‐wox ˈiuβʷøx
C N: Wednesday C N: Thursday ja‐ ɲa
jah ɲah
g aspect: terminative G Num: 1 (one) N: name of the letter <j> P: (impersonal pronoun) jax ɲax
jis ɲis
G jise‐tuf ɲisəˈtuf
jiv ɲiv
C N: urine IV: to urinate N: toilet G AC: then ju ɲu
juun ɲu:n
G AC: but, although, though G Num: 4,913 (289 x 17) juup ɲu:p
C ‐k k
kak kak
g N: Muplo big minute (17 bijuup≈ approx. 5 minutes) number: singular G ke kə
G ‐ke kə
kia‐ kia
G kik g N: noise, name of the letter <k> IV: to make noise N: the object of our speech; what we are talking about mood: affermative g very, much, big, large kia‐cave kiaˈɮavə
kia‐juup kiaˈɲu:p
C N: standard month C N: Muplo hour (17 juup ≈ approx. 85 minutes) kia‐yof kiaˈjøf
kik kik
C N: full stop between sentences G kak ‐kka əˈk:a:
kki‐ əˈk:i:
g N: silence IV: to be silent mood: imperative g aspect: posterior kkice əˈk:i:ɮə
kkux əˈk:u:x
G N: nail, name of the letter <kk> G N: pig g case: argumentative G P: other (passive) klas klas
‐klav klav
G A: complex, difficult klis g left of klid klid
klis klis
G N: faucet, valve, name of the letter <kl> G A: simple, easy klas klos kløs
kouk køuk
G Num: 24,137,569 (1,419,857 x 17) G A: yellow ‐kla kla
klal klal
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 59
kouke‐ruqe‐yug køukəɣuʃəˈjug kouke‐zuun køukəˈðu:n
C N: Muplo yellow season C A: beige, light brown kuuf ku:f
G kwamme ˈkʷam:ə:
G ‐kwo kʷø
‐kya kʲa
g N: thought TV: to think N: lamp, name of the letter <kw> TV: to light up artificially case: postessive g case: causative kyof kʲøf
G laal la:l
G lak‐ lak
lake‐juup lakəˈɲu:p
g N: electricity, electric current, name of the letter <ky> TV: to love N: love, name of the letter <l> very little, almost nothing (emphatic) C M: Muplo second (approx. 1,03 seconds) g not enough G laal lare‐ ˈlaɣə
liil li:l
liil lil‐ lil
lol‐ løl
g TV: to hate N: hate aspect: progressiv e g aspect: imminent ‐lu lu
lun‐ lun
g number: partitive g most, maximal lune‐nnase‐yug lunəˈn:a:səjug
‐luut lu:t
C N: quintessence, what is essential g mood: inferential maam ma:m
mai mai
G N: heart, name of the letter <m> G ‐mao maɯ
maz‐ mað
g N: thank TV: to thank mood: conditional g infinite (from verb to noun denoting the act) me‐ mə
mlak mlak
g which? how? (choice, collocation, quality) G N: hill mlik ‐mle mlə
mlik mlik
g case: iterative G N: valley, name of the letter <ml> mlak mmav əˈm:a:v
G moog mø:g
G G N: home, house, name of the letter <mm> TV: to live N: nose TV: to sniff N: mpelo language (close to Muplo) g A: good, nice, beautyful mu‐‘iu muˈʔiu
mu‐gad muˈgad
C good morning, good afternoon C good evening, good night mu‐plo muˈplø
C N: Muplo language mpaeloe ˈmpɛlɔ
mu‐ mu
Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 60
mwaffe ˈmʷaf:ə:
G g N: respect TV: to respect N: cry, name of the letter <mw> IV: to cry up, on, above mwaje ˈmʷaɲə
G ‐mwil mʷil
‐mwol mʷøl
g down, under, beneath myax mʲax
G ‐na na
nain nain
g N: walk, path, name of the letter <my> IV: to walk case: genitive G P: myself, yourself, himself... (reflexive) naine‐kuuf nainəˈku:f
naine‐mwaffe nainəˈmʷaf:ə:
C N: conscience C N: dignity ‐nan nan
nax nax
g number: interlocutive G N: brother, sister ‐nil nil
nlos nløs
g number: proximal G nnas əˈn:a:s
G nni‐ əˈn:i:
nnig əˈn:i:g
g Num: 12 (twelve) N: name of the letter <nl> N: importance A: important aspect: anterior nnige‐wiiz ən:i:gəˈβʷi:ð
nnum əˈn:u:m
G C G N: doubt TV: to ask doubtfully N: doubtful question mark Num: 6 (six) N: name of the letter <nn> P: I (first singular person) nun nun
nus nus
G nwaak nʷa:k
nwace nʷaɮə
G N: shoe, name of the letter <n> TV: to wear on the feet A: nasty, harsh, unpleasant G TV: to consider nwi nʷi
nwiik nʷi:k
G N: eye G A: kind, polite nwaak nwiik‐aun nʷi:kˈaɯn
nwire ˈnʷiɣə
C TV: to please, to ask kindly G N: hair, name of the letter <nw> nya nʲa
nyak‐ nʲak
G N: sea, name of the letter <ny> nyi g more nyi nʲi
‐o ø
G dry land (included islands) nya g gender: masculine oap øap
G of øf
G Num: 9 (nine) N: name of the letter <oa> N: mouse, name of the letter <o> G nwiik Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 61
‐oi øi
oim øim
g case: dative G A: thin and flat N: sheet, name of the letter <oi> N: knife Num: 4 (four) N: name of the letter <oo> P: you (second singular person) IV: to be (about health) N: health, constitution TV: to cancel, to delete ook ø:k
oot ø:t
G oq ø:ʃ
ore ˈøɣə
G ouq øuʃ
‐ozi øði
G ‐pa pa
paax pa:x
G G g g gender: mixed (group of both males and females) case: privative G A: fast, quick piix paf paf
G ‐pi pi
piix pi:x
g Num: 11 (eleven) N: name of the letter <p> mood: debitive G A: slow paax piv piv
‐pli pli
G AC: again g ‐th (fractionary part) plo plø
G plo‐haan pløˈha:n
plo‐kak pløˈkak
C TV: to speak, to say, to talk N: speech, language, name of the letter <pl> N: vowel or diphthong C N: consonant or consonant cluster plo‐wiiz pløˈβʷi:ð
‐plug plug
C N: quotation marks g around ppice əˈp:i:ɮə
G pun pun
G pwi‐ pʷi
pwije ˈpʷiɲə
g N: lemon, name of the letter <pp> A: acid N: action TV: to do, to act aspect: habitual G N: cat, name of the letter <pw> ‐pwin pʷin
‐pwon pʷøn
g inside g outside pyal pʲal
G ‐qa ʃa
qaaq ʃa:ʃ
g N: ground, floor, name of the letter <py> IV: to stay on the floor case: privative qiiq g N: memory, name of the letter <q> TV: to remember mood: negative G N: forgiveness, oblivion, name of the letter qaaq ‐qe ʃə
qiiq ʃi:ʃ
G Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 62
G <ou> TV: to forgive P: you (second plural person) G P: each other (reciprocal) C N: brotherhood qlut ʃlut
G qqal əˈʃ:a:l
qquh əˈʃ:uh
G N: cloth, cover, name of the letter <ql> TV: to cover Num: 0 (zero) qwax ʃʷax
G qyak ʃʲak
G ra‐ ɣa
ram ɣam
g N: sneeze, name of the letter <qq> IV: to sneeze Num: 13 (thirteen) N: name of the letter <qw> N: bed, name of the letter <qy> IV: to stay in bed aspect: inceptive G N: law G A: lively, euphoric riod C N: exclamation mark rat ɣat
G rit rate‐plo‐haan ɣatəpløˈha:n
riod ɣiød
C N: light, name of the letter <r> TV: to light up, to enlighten N: light sound (<e> or <’>) G A: calm, quiet raod rit ɣit
G rat ru‐ ɣu
rum ɣum
g N: dark TV: to darken bad, ugly G N: king rume‐hil ɣuməˈhil
ruq ɣuʃ
G N: prince, princess G N: year ruqeyug ɣuʃəˈjug
‐s s
C N: Muplo season g number: negative sare ˈsaɣə
G sasse ˈsas:ə:
‐se sə
G N: meeting, name of the letter <s> TV: to meet TV: to bring, to move g active participle si si
siil si:l
G N: today, the current day G Num: 15 (fifteen) C AC: yesterday C AC: the day before yesterday C AC: today G TV: to stop, to keep steady sasse C AC: tomorrow qim ʃim
qlal ʃlal
qlale‐vute‐zua raod ɣaɯd
raode‐wiiz ɣaɯdəˈβʷi:ð
si‐kwo ˈsikʷø
si‐kwo‐kwo ˈsikʷøkʷø
si‐sle ˈsislə
sisse ˈsis: ə:
si‐two ˈsitʷø
G sisse Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 63
C AC: the day after tomorrow g case: temporal slof sløf
ssa‐ əˈs:a:
G N: window, name of the letter <sl> g ssa‐hoih əs:a:ˈhøih
ssat əˈs:a:t
C to become... (from noun/adjective to intransitive verb) to become red G P: we (first plural exclusive person) ssul əˈs:u:l
suas suas
G N: table, name of the letter <ss> G A: military suis sui‐ sui
suis suis
g aspect: ripetitive G A: civil suas si‐two‐two ˈsitʷøtʷø
‐sle slə
suise‐voane‐vut suisəvɯanəˈvut
sunne ˈsun:ə:
C N: policeman, agent G sus sus
G swas sʷas
‐swo sʷø
G N: envelope TV: to wrap IV: to cost N: cost, value N: pen, name of the letter <sw> g case: concessive syil sʲil
‐tan tan
G N: pot, name of the letter <sy> g number: distal tat tat
tate‐ruqe‐yug tatəɣuʃəˈjug G A: white tit C N: Muplo white season ti‐ ti
‐tin tin
g little, a little g number: determinative tit tit
tite‐ruqe‐yug titəɣuʃəˈjug G A: black tat C N: Muplo black season tite‐tat titəˈtat
ti‐wa‐big tiˈβʷabig
C A: gray C AC: soon ‐tle tlə
‐tlik tlik
g case: durative g beside ‐tlok tløk
tlon tløn
g between, in the middle, in the center, through G N: travel , journey, name of the letter <tl> IV: to travel N: traveler tlone‐vut tlønəˈvut
toa tɯa
C C ttit əˈt:i:t
ttole əˈt:ølə
G TV: to excuse N: excuse Num: 83,521 (4,913 x 17) G N: fate, destiny, name of the letter <tt> ttole‐kka əˈt:ølək:a:
tuf tuf
C good bye! (be the destiny!) G N: hole Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 64
tus tus
tuz tuð
G Num: 17 (seventeen) G N: door, gate, name of the letter <t> Tuziat tuðˈiat
‐twi tʷi
C Triest (city of the door) g (power of a number) twil tʷil
‐two tʷø
G N: tooth, name of the letter <tw> g case: antessive tyig tʲig
‐u u
G N: soil, name of the letter <ty> g case: accusative uap uap
uat uat
G A: rich uip G uil uil
‐uin uin
G N: shout. scream, name of the letter <ua> TV: to shout, to scream N: moon, name of the letter <ui> g case: instrumental uip uip
un ˈun:ə:
G A: poor uap G N: word, name of the letter <u> uox uøx
G uu u:
uure ˈu:ɣə
G N: hit, shot, name of the letter <uo> TV: to hit N: water ‐v v
vaiv vaiv
g N: sense, feeling, name of the letter <uu> TV: to feel number: plural G N: task, attempt van van
vib vib
G A: big, large vin G Num: 2 (two) vin vin
vio viø
G A: little, small van G vlaq vlaʃ
G vliq vliʃ
G vlaq voan vɯan
G voane‐vut vɯanəˈvut
voan‐ram vɯanəˈɣam
C N: dance IV: to dance N: blood, name of the letter <vl> IV: to bleed N: scar IV: to heal from a wound N: protection TV: to protect N: guard, keeper C N: right (protection law) vut vut
G vwav vʷav
vya‐ vʲa
G N: person, human being, name of the letter <v> N: leaf (vegetal), name of the letter <vw> g that, who, which (relative pronoun) vyol vʲøl
vyu‐ vʲu
G N: image, picture, name of the letter <vy> g ‐ose, ‐ly (from noun to adjective) G vliq Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 65
C A: slippery G N: instant, moment, name of the letter <w> wa‐dwine‐sle ˈβʷadʷinəslə
wa‐hwine‐sle ˈβʷahʷinəslə
C AC: always ( punctual) C AC: sometimes ( punctual) wa‐nile‐kwo ˈβʷaniləkʷø
wa‐nile‐sle ˈβʷaniləslə
C AC: before C AC: now wa‐nile‐two ˈβʷanilətʷø
‐wap βʷap
C AC: later g verticallly, standing wa‐se‐sle ˈβʷasəslə
‐wat βʷat
C AC: never g crossing, perpendicular to vyu‐dyip vʲuˈdʲip
wa βʷa
wice ˈβʷi:ɮə
wiiz βʷi:ð
g aspect: innovative G N: sign, glyph, character woq βʷøʃ
G wox βʷøx
wum βʷum
G N: food TV: to eat Num: 3 (three) G Num: 16 (sixteen) xaa xa:
G xii xaod xaɯd
xiad xiad
G N: dream TV: to dream N: thunder, name of the letter <x> G A: magenta, fuchsia xiade‐baab xiadəˈba:b
xiade‐yok xiadəˈjok
C A: lilac, light violet C A: dark violet, indigo xiade‐zuun xiadəˈðu:n
C xii xi:
G xlad xlad
xlam xlam
G A: undefined, “kitsch” colour (magenta with green) N: daydream TV: to daydream, to fantasize S: north xlid xlid
xwop xʷøp
G N: hunger A: hungry S: south, name of the letter <xl> xlad G N: lightning, name of the letter <xw> xyal xʲal
G xyil xyil xʲil
G yaaq ja:ʃ
yab‐ jab
G N: bravery, courage A: brave, courageous N: fear, name of the letter <xy> A: fearful IV: to be afraid N: to write g about, more or less ‐yap jap
yasse ˈjas:ə:
g horizontally, lying down G N: flight IV: to fly G xaa xlid xyal yiiq Muplo grammar – Max Jurcev 66
‐yat jat
yid jid
along, longitudinal to G yiiq ji:ʃ
yo‐ jø
G Num: 8 (eight) N: name of the letter <y> N: to read g aspect: simultaneous yoaz jɯað
yof jøf
G A: high yoiz G N: comma or period between sentences yoh jøh
yoh‐iu jøhˈiu
G Num: 7 (seven) C N: week yoiz jøih
yok jøk
G A: low yoaz G A: blue, dark blue ‐yu ju
yud jud
g number: abundantive G N: thought TV: to think N: part, component yug ˈjug
za‐ ða
G zad ðad
zlon ðløn
G G N: chair, name of the letter <zl> zok ðøk
G zua ðɯa
G g Num: 14 (fourteen) N: name of the letter <z> N: knot, bond TV: to bind, to tie ‐ty, ‐ness (from adjective to abstract noun) C N: truth zuun ðu:n
zuune‐ruqe‐yug ðu:nəɣuʃəˈjug G A: green C N: Muplo green season zwak ðʷak
zwik ðʷik
G A: same, equal zwik G A: other, different zwak ‐zwil ðʷil
zwokwe ˈðʷøkʷə
g in front of G g N: idiot, fool, name of the letter <zw> A: stupid behind G N: sand, name of the letter <zy> ‐zwol ðʷøl
zyas ðʲas
g yaaq how much? (measurable or numerable quantity) N: name zuu‐ ðu:
zuu‐‘aal ðu:ˈʔa:l
g